ALBUM REVIEW: Balthazar – Fever

Andrew Thompson reviews the latest offering from Balthazar

By Andrew Thompson
on Friday, February 8th, 2019

PIAS

Released: 08.02.19

Balthazar’s latest offering (insert myrrh joke here) often cuts a sinister outline; like the music you’d expect to hear when someone was walking through an East London underpass in an episode of Luther. Bass-driven melodies and shuffling drums paired with Devoldere’s sneering vocal delivery on the album’s title track and Watchu’ Doin’ are a case in point.

Then, out of the blue, the sinister mood lifts with Entertainment; equal parts Peter, Bjorn & John and the Stooges. Whilst the bass melodies remain at the forefront, they take on a distinctly less macabre quality when married with wavy summertime synths. Fever is definitely a record of two halves and both are pretty great.